| Congratulations!!! To Sharon E Freeman, PhD, APRN-CS for being named "TOP DOC" in the category Psychiatry for Northeast Indiana 2006! |
Latest Issue February 12, 2006
Cover Story:
It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the quantity of physicians in northeast Indiana. There are so many to choose from;
how can you know which one is right for you? Aside from visiting each one, use our Top Docs listing to help you
discover which specialist is right for you or your loved ones.
We asked the advice of more than 5,000 physicians and nurses to find out which specialist they would choose to care
for their loved ones. We sent out nomination forms to licensed doctors and registered nurses in northeast Indiana,
including the counties of Allen, Adams, DeKalb, Grant, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells and
Whitley.
These survey recipients were obtained from the Indiana State Health Professions Bureau, which maintains lists of
licensed physicians and registered nurses. As a guideline we utilized the specialties that are certified by the American
Board of Medical Specialties. Survey recipients were asked to nominate doctors who they believe to be the best in their
field and to take in account professional qualifications, reputations and skills in dealing with patients.
We included 40 common specialties in this survey and constructed a list based on the results. Every doctor listed
received among the top 15- percent of the votes in his or her specialty. The doctors' names are listed in order of
highest number of votes received. Some specialties list more doctors than others; this is a result of the voting
numbers. We also listed additional information including contact information, hospital affiliations and subspecialties for
each doctor.
To ensure the accuracy of our listing we verified every doctor's name, office, phone number, hospital affiliation and
subspecialty. If N/A is listed, then the information does not apply to that particular doctor or was not provided.
If you look at the list and do not see your doctor, please do not be alarmed. Many factors could have contributed to
your doctor's absence. However, if you are new to the area, looking for a second opinion or seeking a specialist, this
list can be your guide.
We selected 14 of the Top Docs to highlight. These doctors received the star treatment with photographs and
interviews. As patients walked in and out of offices, they looked on wondering what was going on, when in fact, their
doctors were receiving a high recognition.
Dr. Sharon Morgillo Freeman
Center for Brief Therapy
When Dr. Freeman found out she was a 2006 Top Doc, she was blown away by the recognition. She works with two
collaborating psychiatrists, Dr. Ronald Pancer and Dr. Prevesh Rustagi, whom she thinks are the Top Docs of psychiatry.
"My practice wouldn't be what it is without the two of them," says Dr. Freeman. "They are the best psychiatrists in Fort
Wayne."
Dr. Freeman has spent over twenty years as a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist, and her practice is similar to that of a
psychiatrist. She focuses more on psychotherapy and integrates information from schools, families, medical records and
family physicians to create a clinical package for her patients.
In psychiatry, progress can take several weeks. "It's sort of like watching a flower unfold," describes Dr. Freeman. "You
have to wait for each petal to open and then you have the whole picture of what you were waiting for all that time.
When someone who has been feeling miserable begins to feel like themselves again, it makes everything worthwhile."
Dr. Freeman met her husband, Dr. Arthur Freeman, when she hired him to do a conference in Fort Wayne. Dr. Freeman
jokes, "He got paid and received a wife as a bonus!"
Married a little over eight years, the Freemans are the best of friends and their relationship is both professionally and
personally rewarding. Since they are in the same profession, they are able to bounce ideas off of each other. And
when each has a chapter due, the other can finish it as a co-author.
Dr. Freeman has so much on her plate; she travels, teaches and writes, and is president elect of the National
Association for Addiction Professionals. Along with those activities, she also has eight grandchildren who get top
priority. At age 13, Dr. Freeman says she had plans to become a veterinarian. But at 20, she already had her first child
and was expecting another. "I didn't think I had what it took to be a professional," she says, "but this was 30 years
ago."
Today, she is proving her younger self wrong. She is content with her career choice and couldn't imagine doing
anything else. Dr. Freeman is humbled by her Top Docs recognition and credits her practice to Meg Duffey, who does so
much every day.
Cover Story:
It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the quantity of physicians in northeast Indiana. There are so many to choose from;
how can you know which one is right for you? Aside from visiting each one, use our Top Docs listing to help you
discover which specialist is right for you or your loved ones.
We asked the advice of more than 5,000 physicians and nurses to find out which specialist they would choose to care
for their loved ones. We sent out nomination forms to licensed doctors and registered nurses in northeast Indiana,
including the counties of Allen, Adams, DeKalb, Grant, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells and
Whitley.
These survey recipients were obtained from the Indiana State Health Professions Bureau, which maintains lists of
licensed physicians and registered nurses. As a guideline we utilized the specialties that are certified by the American
Board of Medical Specialties. Survey recipients were asked to nominate doctors who they believe to be the best in their
field and to take in account professional qualifications, reputations and skills in dealing with patients.
We included 40 common specialties in this survey and constructed a list based on the results. Every doctor listed
received among the top 15- percent of the votes in his or her specialty. The doctors' names are listed in order of
highest number of votes received. Some specialties list more doctors than others; this is a result of the voting
numbers. We also listed additional information including contact information, hospital affiliations and subspecialties for
each doctor.
To ensure the accuracy of our listing we verified every doctor's name, office, phone number, hospital affiliation and
subspecialty. If N/A is listed, then the information does not apply to that particular doctor or was not provided.
If you look at the list and do not see your doctor, please do not be alarmed. Many factors could have contributed to
your doctor's absence. However, if you are new to the area, looking for a second opinion or seeking a specialist, this
list can be your guide.
We selected 14 of the Top Docs to highlight. These doctors received the star treatment with photographs and
interviews. As patients walked in and out of offices, they looked on wondering what was going on, when in fact, their
doctors were receiving a high recognition.
Dr. Sharon Morgillo Freeman
Center for Brief Therapy
When Dr. Freeman found out she was a 2006 Top Doc, she was blown away by the recognition. She works with two
collaborating psychiatrists, Dr. Ronald Pancer and Dr. Prevesh Rustagi, whom she thinks are the Top Docs of psychiatry.
"My practice wouldn't be what it is without the two of them," says Dr. Freeman. "They are the best psychiatrists in Fort
Wayne."
Dr. Freeman has spent over twenty years as a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist, and her practice is similar to that of a
psychiatrist. She focuses more on psychotherapy and integrates information from schools, families, medical records and
family physicians to create a clinical package for her patients.
In psychiatry, progress can take several weeks. "It's sort of like watching a flower unfold," describes Dr. Freeman. "You
have to wait for each petal to open and then you have the whole picture of what you were waiting for all that time.
When someone who has been feeling miserable begins to feel like themselves again, it makes everything worthwhile."
Dr. Freeman met her husband, Dr. Arthur Freeman, when she hired him to do a conference in Fort Wayne. Dr. Freeman
jokes, "He got paid and received a wife as a bonus!"
Married a little over eight years, the Freemans are the best of friends and their relationship is both professionally and
personally rewarding. Since they are in the same profession, they are able to bounce ideas off of each other. And
when each has a chapter due, the other can finish it as a co-author.
Dr. Freeman has so much on her plate; she travels, teaches and writes, and is president elect of the National
Association for Addiction Professionals. Along with those activities, she also has eight grandchildren who get top
priority. At age 13, Dr. Freeman says she had plans to become a veterinarian. But at 20, she already had her first child
and was expecting another. "I didn't think I had what it took to be a professional," she says, "but this was 30 years
ago."
Today, she is proving her younger self wrong. She is content with her career choice and couldn't imagine doing
anything else. Dr. Freeman is humbled by her Top Docs recognition and credits her practice to Meg Duffey, who does so
much every day.
Feb 20, 2007 11:05 PM EST
Fort Wayne - WANE TV
Fort Wayne police have two men in custody Tuesday night in connection with a shooting early Tuesday
morning. Antwain Hines, 21, and Theodore Johnson, 22, both of Fort Wayne, were arrested early
Tuesday night. They are both in the Allen County Jail on preliminary charges of murder, felony murder,
attempted murder and armed robbery. Police say they will be formally charged in court Wednesday
morning.
The shooting happened around 1:30 Tuesday morning at an apartment complex at 3325 McKinnie Ave.
Police found one victim dead at the scene, and another man in critical condition. Police say an argument
over a relationship sparked the fight. Police say they had suspects in mind soon after the shooting, and
fast police work led to two arrests less than 24 hours after the crime happened.
But there's a tragic twist in this story: Even before police could clean up the scene, another person died,
but she wasn't actually involved in the shooting. The woman was a relative of one of the shooting victims.
When she saw the scene, she collapsed, and died later at the hospital. Neither police nor the hospital are
releasing the cause of her death or how she's related to the victim, a psychiatric nurse tells Newschannel
15 the shock of hearing such terrible news can actually kill someone.
"It use to be an old wives tale to die of a broken heart but researchers at Johns Hopkins began studying
the syndrome and learned there was such a thing as broken heart syndrome, it is called stress induced
acute cardiomyopathy" says psychiatric clinical nurse specialist Dr. Sharon Morgillo Freeman.
The symptoms mimic a heart attack. "In instances where there is a severe acute stressor, even like a
surprise, there is a burst of adrenaline. The adrenaline affects the heart in such a way that it stuns the
heart," she says.
Elderly women are the most at risk. "Problems occurs mainly in women between the ages of 27 to 65. The
average age is between 60 to 63," said Morgillo Freeman.
Death from the condition is very rare, but not unheard of. Only extremely stressful situations, either
emotional or physical, can trigger it and it's not always fatal.
"In the majority of cases the person recovers," she says. "The heart isn't damaged and they go on to
live normally."
Fort Wayne - WANE TV
Fort Wayne police have two men in custody Tuesday night in connection with a shooting early Tuesday
morning. Antwain Hines, 21, and Theodore Johnson, 22, both of Fort Wayne, were arrested early
Tuesday night. They are both in the Allen County Jail on preliminary charges of murder, felony murder,
attempted murder and armed robbery. Police say they will be formally charged in court Wednesday
morning.
The shooting happened around 1:30 Tuesday morning at an apartment complex at 3325 McKinnie Ave.
Police found one victim dead at the scene, and another man in critical condition. Police say an argument
over a relationship sparked the fight. Police say they had suspects in mind soon after the shooting, and
fast police work led to two arrests less than 24 hours after the crime happened.
But there's a tragic twist in this story: Even before police could clean up the scene, another person died,
but she wasn't actually involved in the shooting. The woman was a relative of one of the shooting victims.
When she saw the scene, she collapsed, and died later at the hospital. Neither police nor the hospital are
releasing the cause of her death or how she's related to the victim, a psychiatric nurse tells Newschannel
15 the shock of hearing such terrible news can actually kill someone.
"It use to be an old wives tale to die of a broken heart but researchers at Johns Hopkins began studying
the syndrome and learned there was such a thing as broken heart syndrome, it is called stress induced
acute cardiomyopathy" says psychiatric clinical nurse specialist Dr. Sharon Morgillo Freeman.
The symptoms mimic a heart attack. "In instances where there is a severe acute stressor, even like a
surprise, there is a burst of adrenaline. The adrenaline affects the heart in such a way that it stuns the
heart," she says.
Elderly women are the most at risk. "Problems occurs mainly in women between the ages of 27 to 65. The
average age is between 60 to 63," said Morgillo Freeman.
Death from the condition is very rare, but not unheard of. Only extremely stressful situations, either
emotional or physical, can trigger it and it's not always fatal.
"In the majority of cases the person recovers," she says. "The heart isn't damaged and they go on to
live normally."
NBC 33—Ft. Wayne, IN
A Patch for Passion? WISE33
Fort Wayne, IN - Lack of sexual desire: it's a problem that affects almost four out of every ten women. Check out Jessica
Toumani's special report on a potential remedy that's easy to "stick" to.
Low libido is one of the most common complaints sex therapist hear. With more moms working, many women these days are
simply too tired. But, now an invisible patch, developed in the UK promises to give women back 'that loving feeling.' So, we had two
Fort Wayne women put it to the test.
Couples who've lost that special spark often deprive themselves of the most intimate moments. Fort Wayne therapist Sharon
Freeman has spent years working with them and as of late, she says well... business isn't too bad.
"There's been a higher number of couples that come in and it's women exhaustion that's the issue, especially with new babies. The
first few years after a baby is born, it's exhaustion. That's the issue," says Sharon Freeman, a therapist who works with struggling
couples.
Exhaustion is exactly what Kristi O'Brien, a working mom in her early thirties, says she experiences. Within the past two years, her
sex drive has taken a nose dive, so much so, her husband suggested she get help.
" He had said something's not quite right, we've been married for 13 years, and you just don't seem like you used to. I think you
should go see your doctor, and I said 'oh no I don't think so'," says O'Brien.
And now Kristi and others may be able to solve their bedroom struggles without a trip to the doctor. It's called Scentuelle. It's a new
non-prescription patch worn on the skin promising to launch a women's libido into overdrive.
"Unlike, you know, pharmaceutical drugs, topical creams, pills that focus on climax or end result, scentuelle's designed to give you
that feeling all day long you know and keep that feeling of desire," says Linda Ryan, Vice President of the The Orion Company,
distributors of Scentuelle.
So how does it work? Well it never enters the bloodstream, instead after you place the patch on your wrist, you are directed to take
a whiff of it every hour. The combination of scent molecules on the patch are supposed to mimic dopamine.
Dopamine is one of the brain neurotransmitters that is the fun neurotransmitter. It's the neurotransmitter that gives us that feeling of
'ooh!',"says Freeman.
Amy Edmond, already feeling a lack of lust at only 29 years old, decided to give the patch a shot.
"I like the smell of it, when I first tried it out, the smell kind of made me light headed and I kind of just got different feelings," says
Edmond.
But, she says, those feelings did not last. Kristy, also desperate for a solution, wore the patch for a week.
"I really didn't notice anything different. I mean I put it on, I sniffed it every hour, sometimes two or three times an hour, just
thought 'okay, maybe I'm not doing it right'. The smell kind of it kind of nauseated me," says O'Brien.
Distributors say the patch doesn't work for everyone, but in previous studies, nearly half of the women reported feeling more
sensual and having more sexual fantasies.
The doctor's take?
"Some placebo effect that 'I think if I smell this I'm going to get turned on', hey, you know what, if it works, use it," says Freeman.
Dr. Freeman says she'd like to see more scientific research before she would actually reccomend the product. As for Kristi, she
says, it's unfortunate that for her Scentuelle didn't live up to its name.
" You know, they say women in their thirties are supposed to be in their prime and I keep waiting, I'm watching, I'm waiting," says
O'Brien.
Distributors say the patch can take anywhere from a week to a month before users can actually feel any sort of effect.
Two weeks from tonight, I'll be checking back with Amy and Kristi to see if this "passion patch" has done its job!
By: Jessica Toumani
More Stories from WISE33-TV
A Patch for Passion? WISE33
Fort Wayne, IN - Lack of sexual desire: it's a problem that affects almost four out of every ten women. Check out Jessica
Toumani's special report on a potential remedy that's easy to "stick" to.
Low libido is one of the most common complaints sex therapist hear. With more moms working, many women these days are
simply too tired. But, now an invisible patch, developed in the UK promises to give women back 'that loving feeling.' So, we had two
Fort Wayne women put it to the test.
Couples who've lost that special spark often deprive themselves of the most intimate moments. Fort Wayne therapist Sharon
Freeman has spent years working with them and as of late, she says well... business isn't too bad.
"There's been a higher number of couples that come in and it's women exhaustion that's the issue, especially with new babies. The
first few years after a baby is born, it's exhaustion. That's the issue," says Sharon Freeman, a therapist who works with struggling
couples.
Exhaustion is exactly what Kristi O'Brien, a working mom in her early thirties, says she experiences. Within the past two years, her
sex drive has taken a nose dive, so much so, her husband suggested she get help.
" He had said something's not quite right, we've been married for 13 years, and you just don't seem like you used to. I think you
should go see your doctor, and I said 'oh no I don't think so'," says O'Brien.
And now Kristi and others may be able to solve their bedroom struggles without a trip to the doctor. It's called Scentuelle. It's a new
non-prescription patch worn on the skin promising to launch a women's libido into overdrive.
"Unlike, you know, pharmaceutical drugs, topical creams, pills that focus on climax or end result, scentuelle's designed to give you
that feeling all day long you know and keep that feeling of desire," says Linda Ryan, Vice President of the The Orion Company,
distributors of Scentuelle.
So how does it work? Well it never enters the bloodstream, instead after you place the patch on your wrist, you are directed to take
a whiff of it every hour. The combination of scent molecules on the patch are supposed to mimic dopamine.
Dopamine is one of the brain neurotransmitters that is the fun neurotransmitter. It's the neurotransmitter that gives us that feeling of
'ooh!',"says Freeman.
Amy Edmond, already feeling a lack of lust at only 29 years old, decided to give the patch a shot.
"I like the smell of it, when I first tried it out, the smell kind of made me light headed and I kind of just got different feelings," says
Edmond.
But, she says, those feelings did not last. Kristy, also desperate for a solution, wore the patch for a week.
"I really didn't notice anything different. I mean I put it on, I sniffed it every hour, sometimes two or three times an hour, just
thought 'okay, maybe I'm not doing it right'. The smell kind of it kind of nauseated me," says O'Brien.
Distributors say the patch doesn't work for everyone, but in previous studies, nearly half of the women reported feeling more
sensual and having more sexual fantasies.
The doctor's take?
"Some placebo effect that 'I think if I smell this I'm going to get turned on', hey, you know what, if it works, use it," says Freeman.
Dr. Freeman says she'd like to see more scientific research before she would actually reccomend the product. As for Kristi, she
says, it's unfortunate that for her Scentuelle didn't live up to its name.
" You know, they say women in their thirties are supposed to be in their prime and I keep waiting, I'm watching, I'm waiting," says
O'Brien.
Distributors say the patch can take anywhere from a week to a month before users can actually feel any sort of effect.
Two weeks from tonight, I'll be checking back with Amy and Kristi to see if this "passion patch" has done its job!
By: Jessica Toumani
More Stories from WISE33-TV
Journal Gazette, The (Fort Wayne, IN)
December 21, 2005
Section: WEDNESDAY BUSINESS
Edition: Final Edition
Page: 1E
Cognitive therapy center puts city on cutting edge
Michael Schroeder The Journal Gazette
When Arthur Freeman and Sharon Morgillo Freeman decided to move to Fort Wayne from Philadelphia, they had thoughts
of an early retirement with maybe a modest therapy practice on the side.
Morgillo Freeman has some family and friends in Fort Wayne, which drew the couple back to the area.
But as the inside of Freeman's new office - seemingly wallpapered in his framed diplomas, certifications and other merits -
silently attests, the pair may have been overqualified for the break.
With encouragement from colleagues, they scrapped the idea of partial retirement. On Oct. 3, they opened the Center for
Brief Therapy PC and the Freeman Institute for Cognitive Therapy, just south of Dupont Road.
The center uses cognitive-behavioral therapy as one technique to address unproductive beliefs and behaviors, along with
other psychotherapy approaches and medication as necessary. Cognitive therapy helps people overcome emotional and
behavioral problems from depression to drug abuse by addressing unproductive beliefs and behaviors. For most problems,
the approach typically lasts six to 12 weeks.
Already seeing around 50 patients, the couple has ambitious goals that further obliterate any pipe-dream notions of slowing
down.
They plan to accept post-doctoral fellows into the Freeman Institute by fall of 2006. In addition, the couple plan to lead
professional workshops, training days and teach courses (likely including separate courses for non-professionals), while
providing case consultation and, as needed, consultation to other agencies.
"Our goal is to expand CBT (the practice of cognitive-behavioral therapy) in Indiana," said Freeman - a student of
cognitive-behavioral therapy founding father, Dr. Aaron Beck. Through the training institute, the couple hope to establish Fort
Wayne as a major training site for cognitive therapists in the Midwest.
Freeman said that the couple don't have a firm idea of how that might translate into dollars and cents for the center and
declined to project future revenues.
As certified cognitive therapists, Freeman, 63, and Morgillo Freeman, 50, emphasize a collaborative and active approach to
therapy. The couple use a variety of psychological disciplines when working with patients.
Cognitive therapy seeks to help patients determine and modify unproductive beliefs and behaviors by first discerning how
they process their environment.
The intent is to "help people understand the lenses through which people view the world," Freeman said.
For instance, someone who is addicted to drugs is likely to experience triggers that precede drug abuse. By identifying
triggers and developing an action plan to either deal with or avoid the triggers, a person may be able to overcome the
addiction, explained Morgillo Freeman, who is also president-elect of the National Association for Addiction Professionals.
While many therapeutic approaches first delve into why a person is the way they are, cognitive therapy focuses on what
keeps them there, Freeman added.
Considered a cognitive therapy authority, Freeman has written 52 books on the subject, sharing bylines with colleagues
including his wife.
Many are geared toward professional peers - such as "Clinical Applications of Cognitive Therapy," in its second edition,
co-authored by James Pretzer, Barbara Fleming and Karen M. Simon. Others, such as "The 10 Dumbest Mistakes Smart
People Make and How to Avoid Them," co-written by Rose DeWolf, are written for the layperson.
With strong credentials of their own, Freeman and Morgillo Freeman are outspoken that fellow therapists should be qualified
in their respective disciplines. The center's brochure says that although many therapists say they practice cognitive therapy,
"only those therapists who meet the training and education standards set by ACT and the National Institutes of Health should
claim this expertise." ACT stands for Academy for Cognitive Therapy, of which Freeman was a distinguished founding fellow
in 1999.
According to ACT guidelines, Freeman and Morgillo Freeman are the only therapists in northern Indiana certified, trained
and qualified to conduct and teach cognitive therapy.
In addition, Freeman is one of several therapists in the state who is certified in clinical psychology by the American Board of
Professional Psychology, one of only three therapists in Indiana board-certified in behavioral psychology, one of two certified
in family psychology.
By law, a psychological professional must be licensed by the state and be designated as a health service provider in
psychology to practice, but specialty certification is not required.
Also licensed as a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist- and therefore allowed to prescribe medicine - Morgillo Freeman is the
center's executive director. Freeman is director of training and supervision. The center employs a licensed marriage and
family therapist and plans to add a clinical supervisor by this summer. Two collaborating psychiatrists work with the center.
"A broad base of knowledge and a very caring attitude" make Morgillo Freeman especially fit for the field, said Dr. Prevesh
Rustagi, who works at Fort Wayne Psychiatry PC. One of the collaborating psychiatrists, he has worked with Morgillo
Freeman in the past, when she previously resided in Fort Wayne. In 1997, she moved to Philadelphia, where she married
Freeman.
"Lots of areas of psychotherapy can be very fuzzy, and she looks for the hard data," he said. He added that not everything
can be quantified and that treatment approaches should be customized, something he believes is not lost on Morgillo
Freeman.
Freeman was similarly praised.
He is "probably one of the leading figures in cognitive therapy in the world," said Dr. Frank Dattilio. A faculty member in the
Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and prolific author, Dattilio has shared some bylines with his colleague
and friend.
"The Midwest is lucky to have him," Dattilio said. He expected his friend to fare well in the new market.
"In my opinion, there's little competition because very few people carry that professional weight," he said.
Local psychological professionals said the more the merrier.
In terms of competitiveness, a new practice is not likely to threaten others, said Anna Black, owner and therapist at Black &
Associates Counseling Services in Fort Wayne. "Really what it means are there are new and more means for health and
wellness."
Black contended that given the variety of issues people face and the myriad methodologies used to address those problems,
new practices are ultimately beneficial for everyone. She does not think that the Fort Wayne market is saturated.
Black integrates cognitive therapy, among other disciplines, into her practice. While she did not wish to comment directly on
Freeman and Morgillo Freeman's assessment of what qualifies for expertise in the area, she did agree that the term is
overused in the field of psychology.
For their part, Freeman and Morgillo Freeman said in an e-mail that there are many skilled and talented therapists in Fort
Wayne. "We do not see these individuals as competitors nor do we wish to take an adversarial stance regarding the
theoretical orientations represented by these individuals," they said.
As they settle into their new professional home, thoughts of retirement aren't likely to return anytime soon for the couple.
Instead, with a new challenge in front of them, they are moving full speed ahead.
"I enjoy seeing patients," Morgillo Freeman said. "I love what I do."
Mschroeder@jg.net
At a glance
Company: Center for Brief Therapy PC and the Freeman Institute for Cognitive Therapy
Address: 10319 Dawson's Creek Blvd., Suite J, Fort Wayne
Employees: 4, Sharon Morgillo Freeman, executive director; Arthur Freeman, director of training and supervision; licensed
marriage and family therapist Janet Eggiman (with her poodle, "Kotter," a registered therapy dog) and office manager Meg
Duffey.
Services : The Center for Brief Therapy provides therapy for depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse problems, pain
disorders, relationship issues, trauma and a range of other psychological problems. In addition to psychotherapy techniques,
medication and on-site drug testing are also available. The Freeman Institute plans to open its doors post-doctoral fellows in
the near future.
December 21, 2005
Section: WEDNESDAY BUSINESS
Edition: Final Edition
Page: 1E
Cognitive therapy center puts city on cutting edge
Michael Schroeder The Journal Gazette
When Arthur Freeman and Sharon Morgillo Freeman decided to move to Fort Wayne from Philadelphia, they had thoughts
of an early retirement with maybe a modest therapy practice on the side.
Morgillo Freeman has some family and friends in Fort Wayne, which drew the couple back to the area.
But as the inside of Freeman's new office - seemingly wallpapered in his framed diplomas, certifications and other merits -
silently attests, the pair may have been overqualified for the break.
With encouragement from colleagues, they scrapped the idea of partial retirement. On Oct. 3, they opened the Center for
Brief Therapy PC and the Freeman Institute for Cognitive Therapy, just south of Dupont Road.
The center uses cognitive-behavioral therapy as one technique to address unproductive beliefs and behaviors, along with
other psychotherapy approaches and medication as necessary. Cognitive therapy helps people overcome emotional and
behavioral problems from depression to drug abuse by addressing unproductive beliefs and behaviors. For most problems,
the approach typically lasts six to 12 weeks.
Already seeing around 50 patients, the couple has ambitious goals that further obliterate any pipe-dream notions of slowing
down.
They plan to accept post-doctoral fellows into the Freeman Institute by fall of 2006. In addition, the couple plan to lead
professional workshops, training days and teach courses (likely including separate courses for non-professionals), while
providing case consultation and, as needed, consultation to other agencies.
"Our goal is to expand CBT (the practice of cognitive-behavioral therapy) in Indiana," said Freeman - a student of
cognitive-behavioral therapy founding father, Dr. Aaron Beck. Through the training institute, the couple hope to establish Fort
Wayne as a major training site for cognitive therapists in the Midwest.
Freeman said that the couple don't have a firm idea of how that might translate into dollars and cents for the center and
declined to project future revenues.
As certified cognitive therapists, Freeman, 63, and Morgillo Freeman, 50, emphasize a collaborative and active approach to
therapy. The couple use a variety of psychological disciplines when working with patients.
Cognitive therapy seeks to help patients determine and modify unproductive beliefs and behaviors by first discerning how
they process their environment.
The intent is to "help people understand the lenses through which people view the world," Freeman said.
For instance, someone who is addicted to drugs is likely to experience triggers that precede drug abuse. By identifying
triggers and developing an action plan to either deal with or avoid the triggers, a person may be able to overcome the
addiction, explained Morgillo Freeman, who is also president-elect of the National Association for Addiction Professionals.
While many therapeutic approaches first delve into why a person is the way they are, cognitive therapy focuses on what
keeps them there, Freeman added.
Considered a cognitive therapy authority, Freeman has written 52 books on the subject, sharing bylines with colleagues
including his wife.
Many are geared toward professional peers - such as "Clinical Applications of Cognitive Therapy," in its second edition,
co-authored by James Pretzer, Barbara Fleming and Karen M. Simon. Others, such as "The 10 Dumbest Mistakes Smart
People Make and How to Avoid Them," co-written by Rose DeWolf, are written for the layperson.
With strong credentials of their own, Freeman and Morgillo Freeman are outspoken that fellow therapists should be qualified
in their respective disciplines. The center's brochure says that although many therapists say they practice cognitive therapy,
"only those therapists who meet the training and education standards set by ACT and the National Institutes of Health should
claim this expertise." ACT stands for Academy for Cognitive Therapy, of which Freeman was a distinguished founding fellow
in 1999.
According to ACT guidelines, Freeman and Morgillo Freeman are the only therapists in northern Indiana certified, trained
and qualified to conduct and teach cognitive therapy.
In addition, Freeman is one of several therapists in the state who is certified in clinical psychology by the American Board of
Professional Psychology, one of only three therapists in Indiana board-certified in behavioral psychology, one of two certified
in family psychology.
By law, a psychological professional must be licensed by the state and be designated as a health service provider in
psychology to practice, but specialty certification is not required.
Also licensed as a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist- and therefore allowed to prescribe medicine - Morgillo Freeman is the
center's executive director. Freeman is director of training and supervision. The center employs a licensed marriage and
family therapist and plans to add a clinical supervisor by this summer. Two collaborating psychiatrists work with the center.
"A broad base of knowledge and a very caring attitude" make Morgillo Freeman especially fit for the field, said Dr. Prevesh
Rustagi, who works at Fort Wayne Psychiatry PC. One of the collaborating psychiatrists, he has worked with Morgillo
Freeman in the past, when she previously resided in Fort Wayne. In 1997, she moved to Philadelphia, where she married
Freeman.
"Lots of areas of psychotherapy can be very fuzzy, and she looks for the hard data," he said. He added that not everything
can be quantified and that treatment approaches should be customized, something he believes is not lost on Morgillo
Freeman.
Freeman was similarly praised.
He is "probably one of the leading figures in cognitive therapy in the world," said Dr. Frank Dattilio. A faculty member in the
Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and prolific author, Dattilio has shared some bylines with his colleague
and friend.
"The Midwest is lucky to have him," Dattilio said. He expected his friend to fare well in the new market.
"In my opinion, there's little competition because very few people carry that professional weight," he said.
Local psychological professionals said the more the merrier.
In terms of competitiveness, a new practice is not likely to threaten others, said Anna Black, owner and therapist at Black &
Associates Counseling Services in Fort Wayne. "Really what it means are there are new and more means for health and
wellness."
Black contended that given the variety of issues people face and the myriad methodologies used to address those problems,
new practices are ultimately beneficial for everyone. She does not think that the Fort Wayne market is saturated.
Black integrates cognitive therapy, among other disciplines, into her practice. While she did not wish to comment directly on
Freeman and Morgillo Freeman's assessment of what qualifies for expertise in the area, she did agree that the term is
overused in the field of psychology.
For their part, Freeman and Morgillo Freeman said in an e-mail that there are many skilled and talented therapists in Fort
Wayne. "We do not see these individuals as competitors nor do we wish to take an adversarial stance regarding the
theoretical orientations represented by these individuals," they said.
As they settle into their new professional home, thoughts of retirement aren't likely to return anytime soon for the couple.
Instead, with a new challenge in front of them, they are moving full speed ahead.
"I enjoy seeing patients," Morgillo Freeman said. "I love what I do."
Mschroeder@jg.net
At a glance
Company: Center for Brief Therapy PC and the Freeman Institute for Cognitive Therapy
Address: 10319 Dawson's Creek Blvd., Suite J, Fort Wayne
Employees: 4, Sharon Morgillo Freeman, executive director; Arthur Freeman, director of training and supervision; licensed
marriage and family therapist Janet Eggiman (with her poodle, "Kotter," a registered therapy dog) and office manager Meg
Duffey.
Services : The Center for Brief Therapy provides therapy for depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse problems, pain
disorders, relationship issues, trauma and a range of other psychological problems. In addition to psychotherapy techniques,
medication and on-site drug testing are also available. The Freeman Institute plans to open its doors post-doctoral fellows in
the near future.
| Center for Brief Therapy, P.C. In The News |
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School Transitions
Story Published: Aug 9, 2007 at 6:05 PM EDT
Story Updated: Aug 9, 2007 at 8:46 PM EDT
By Jessica Toumani Watch the story http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/9073311.html?video=YHI&t=a
School transitions are tough.
It's a scary time for parents and kids, a transition from the known to the unknown, from elementary to junior high or
junior high to high school.
Right now, Kory Anderson has help, but in a couple of weeks it will just be Kory, his new locker and his five classes.
Kory will officially be a middle schooler.
"I'm not really stressed out, I'm kind of happy. I'm leaving elementary school cause it's a new start and like new
grades, new record," says Kory Anderson, a soon-to-be sixth grader at Lane Middle School.
Still for many students, Middle school is the first real transition from childhood and one many aren't sure they're quite
ready for just yet.
"Kinda nervous, new people and stuff could happen, you don't know what could happen," says Alyssa Reasoner, also a
student at Lane Middle School.
"No recess, you have to go to different classes , you just won't have one teacher and more things will happen in
school," says Treyvon Covington.
To deal with those unanswered questions and nervous feelings, several hundred students in the district attended
Transition Days, 150 just at Lane Middle School.
"They are working on their lockers, they're working on their computer login, so that first day that they come in, they
can focus on their academics," says Jennifer Peckham, the principal at Lane Middle School.
The transition from elementary to middle school is the first of several.
"I think mentally some kids get anxiety disorders and even some depression because it affects their self
esteem, they're unable to organize their homework, get it turned in on time, and make friends like they used
to." says Janet Eggiman, a Family Therapist at the Center for Brief Therapy.
Eggiman says parents can ease the pain by listening, not judging. Another key is to help with organization, since this is
one of the biggest stressors. This soon to be sixth grader, though, seems to have it figured out all on his own.
"They started talking about all the stuff, I wasn't so nervous I just started thinking about chillin' back, relaxin' whatever
comes roll with it," says Travis Anderson.
Story Published: Aug 9, 2007 at 6:05 PM EDT
Story Updated: Aug 9, 2007 at 8:46 PM EDT
By Jessica Toumani Watch the story http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/9073311.html?video=YHI&t=a
School transitions are tough.
It's a scary time for parents and kids, a transition from the known to the unknown, from elementary to junior high or
junior high to high school.
Right now, Kory Anderson has help, but in a couple of weeks it will just be Kory, his new locker and his five classes.
Kory will officially be a middle schooler.
"I'm not really stressed out, I'm kind of happy. I'm leaving elementary school cause it's a new start and like new
grades, new record," says Kory Anderson, a soon-to-be sixth grader at Lane Middle School.
Still for many students, Middle school is the first real transition from childhood and one many aren't sure they're quite
ready for just yet.
"Kinda nervous, new people and stuff could happen, you don't know what could happen," says Alyssa Reasoner, also a
student at Lane Middle School.
"No recess, you have to go to different classes , you just won't have one teacher and more things will happen in
school," says Treyvon Covington.
To deal with those unanswered questions and nervous feelings, several hundred students in the district attended
Transition Days, 150 just at Lane Middle School.
"They are working on their lockers, they're working on their computer login, so that first day that they come in, they
can focus on their academics," says Jennifer Peckham, the principal at Lane Middle School.
The transition from elementary to middle school is the first of several.
"I think mentally some kids get anxiety disorders and even some depression because it affects their self
esteem, they're unable to organize their homework, get it turned in on time, and make friends like they used
to." says Janet Eggiman, a Family Therapist at the Center for Brief Therapy.
Eggiman says parents can ease the pain by listening, not judging. Another key is to help with organization, since this is
one of the biggest stressors. This soon to be sixth grader, though, seems to have it figured out all on his own.
"They started talking about all the stuff, I wasn't so nervous I just started thinking about chillin' back, relaxin' whatever
comes roll with it," says Travis Anderson.